1954 Mercedes W 196 R Streamliner: The Last Record of a Dream Car

It has become the most expensive Grand Prix car ever: the 1954 Mercedes W 196 R Streamliner, auctioned by RM Sotheby’s in Stuttgart on February 1st for €51,155,000. The reason for this extraordinary value is not so much its sporting merits but rather what it represented at the time and continues to symbolize in Formula 1 history. It was not only a symbol of Germany’s desire to reassert its technological prowess but also the only successful attempt at a fully streamlined Formula 1 car.

The Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Streamliner, chassis number 9, in preparation at the Untertürkheim plant as a gift for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in 1965.

With its return to Formula 1, Mercedes made highly advanced technical choices: a 2500cc engine, as per regulations, with direct fuel injection—a groundbreaking innovation inspired by the system used in Messerschmitt fighter planes. The engine was tilted at 53° to minimize the frontal section of the car, while inboard brakes reduced the effect of unsprung mass. The car also featured independent suspension on all four wheels and numerous other innovations compared to its rivals at the time. Most notably, it was entirely streamlined, resembling the record-breaking speed models of the pre-war era—a truly spectacular sight. In 1954, Mercedes arrived late to the World Championship with its star driver, Juan Manuel Fangio, who had competed in the first races with a Maserati 250F, securing valuable points for the title that he ultimately won after switching to the Silver Star team.

The very first race of the new Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Formula 1 racing car with a streamlined body was the 1954 French Grand Prix, won by Juan Manuel Fangio.

The debut took place in 1954 on the high-speed French circuit of Reims, where the streamlined car achieved such incredible speeds that it immediately claimed victory. However, at Silverstone, problems emerged: drivers struggled to see the track edges, and the aluminum body, though lightweight, was still bulkier than a traditional open-wheel design. Another issue, though never officially admitted, became apparent—without front spoilers, which had yet to be invented, the car tended to become unstable and difficult to handle at high speeds. It returned to victory at Monza, benefiting from the fast Italian road circuit, but was soon replaced by a non-streamlined version that Mercedes quickly developed, with driver support, for less high-speed tracks. This new version, far less visually striking, effectively replaced the Streamliner in the following season, helping Mercedes secure a second world title. The Streamliner was only used in Buenos Aires and at Monza, where the newly banked curves made their debut.

In the 1955 season, the non-streamlined version of the W 196 R was preferred, while the Streamliner raced only in Argentina and Monza.

At the end of the season, Mercedes withdrew from racing, and the car auctioned today was previously acquired by the museum of the world’s fastest racetrack—Indianapolis. One key fact highlights its significance in the collector’s world: until February 1st this year, the record price for a Grand Prix car had been €23,500,000, set in a 2013 Bonhams auction. It remains unknown who purchased the W 196 R Streamliner this time, but it will be difficult to keep such a masterpiece hidden from the world.

The February 1st auction at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart set a record for a Grand Prix car, reaching the incredible price of €51,155,000.